Flawless (Chestnut Springs, 1) Paperback – August 29, 2023

Starting off 2023 with a recommended book AND a new to me author. Taking a risk to start the year, but I was game and ready to gamble. I’m not big on cowboy books, movies or shows, but yowza! Rhett Eaton makes me want to ride a cowboy!"Now, tell me honestly, Summer. If this were your last moment on earth, what would you want me to do?"I don't even have to think about it. I know what I want from him. "Ruin me.""Good, I'm about .... done being a gentleman with you. And the only thing I'm ruining you for is anyone else."Rhett has gotten himself into a bit of trouble with his sponsors. He's a bull rider, has won it all twice and wants to win once more. But he's a little older AND he's just announced he doesn't like milk and he may have hit a someone that just may have deserved it. Enter Summer. His new "babysitter" assigned to him by his agent that must keep him on the up and up the last few months of the tour so he won't tarnish his reputation and lose more sponsors. Summer will be moving into his family home, traveling with him and watching his every move, but she also happens to be the daughter of his agent. Could things get any worse?Flawless was a fun age gap, forced proximity romance with some of the best banter. I loved the beginning of the chapters and the texts between the characters. It was fun to see how Summer and Rhett's relationship changed throughout the story by those texts. It had me laughing and smiling at each build up. At first, Rhett wanted nothing to do with Summer, but oh how he changes his mind. I really liked seeing this grumpy bull rider that has a reputation with the women show how polite and family oriented he is with his door opening, chair pulling out, why he is riding and his 'ma'ams'. Trust me. That will make you melt too.Then there is Summer and the way she stands up for Rhett to his family, her father and everyone that even says anything negative about him. She may have had a childhood crush on this good looking bull rider, but getting to know the rider himself had her really connecting to him.I really enjoyed these two and their connection. I liked the way Summer supported Rhett, his riding goals and the way he loved his family. Speaking of the family, I am 100% invested in the Eatons. I have a feeling these brothers are going to do me in. And we can't forget about Summer's dad. Because I loved him as a boss, but as a father? Perfection. He is the type of father we all want. Summer wanted someone to love, support her and just be there for her, and while she found that in Rhett, she had a father that truly adored her and would support her in anything.Flawless is a story that should be on all your lists if you're a small town romance lover. Like I said, I'm not a "cowboy romance" type of reader, but Elsie Silver got me with this one. Totally loved Rhett and Summer, but I really enjoyed the whole supporting cast of characters and I look forward to seeing them in future books. I will be back for more in this series.

A bull rider and his agent—how did I not see this coming?Summer (h) is the “other child” of the family, conceived from a quick romp with a maid, and feels like she has something to prove, be it loyally following her father or nurturing those around her because “I’m an empath” (and no, not in the actual way, more like the Tumblr way).Rhett (H) is the youngest cowboy in his family (save his little nephew) and has built an unsupported career off the adrenaline rush of bull riding at the risk of worsening his injuries and running his mouth.When Rhett’s jokes and less-than-graceful handling of nosy journalists nearly tank his career, Summer is sent out as his glorified babysitter.And that’s how our small town, enemies to lovers story kicks off.I found the term “enemy” was a very, er, <em>inaccurate</em> way of describing our H and h. They are both victims of circumstance who don’t get along and have their little scuffles, but that doesn’t make them “enemies”. I’d say this is more of a <em>strangers to lovers</em> phenomenon than enemies.Enemies to lovers for me needs to be all about the mockery, the hurt, and one attempt of legitimately murdering the other (be it in body or in mind).I enjoyed this book subverted several tropes in such a <em><strong>natural</strong></em> way. For example, Summer may be unapologetically city girl, but she can ride horses, she’s not embittered at her father’s infidelity, she’s better at endurance training than the guys <em>without</em> monologuing about it, and she understands when she is hurt.I was very worried when Rhett got hurt that Summer would make up with him then. But when Rhett went all, well, <em>Rhett</em>, I was pleased she walked away and rightfully ignored him.I also very much liked she was unapologetically city girl and very brilliant without monologuing or exacerbating her differences between her and the country folk.I had a bit of an issue with all the “nibbling on her lips” and “I’m an empath—a nurture”. The verb <em>nibbling</em> requires both lips and picturing it (because, as some of us do, we create an entire feature film as we read) made me gloss over any of her “anxious tells”.I also liked how this was a subverted babysitter trope to a degree. I get annoyed at the whole agent/PR x athlete trope because the agent comes off as snarky and childish as they <em>literally</em> treat the athlete like a child who knows nothing or a “dumb jock” and refuse to apologize for it.The antagonism between these two were realistic, and I’m happy Summer knew better than to embarrass anyone while on the job and also took Rhett’s own emotions into account.I <em><strong>did</strong></em> like Rhett more towards the end than at the beginning. I especially loved when his father shut down Rhett’s “possessive Alpha” act with advice almost every MMC needs: stop focusing on the person eyeing your lover and focus on who your lover is eyeing.When people gawked at two of my previous partners, I felt pride because that means others were besotted with their charm as I was. And I felt so lucky someone so well-sought after was with me and I got to know them under all the vanity.Possessiveness and jealousy are actually darkly thrilling to read <em><strong>within the context of the story and/or character</strong></em>. Some authors make cinnamon roll MCs aggressively jealous as a way to “show a whole new side” but it feels shoehorned in.Rhett’s jealousy actually felt like one small part of his personality, and his father’s quick word of advice was perfect. No soapboxing. No shoehorning. No signing. Two sentences and we’re done with that ish.What prevents me from 5⭐️s is the use of family and the best friend. I’m sorry. I <em>hate</em> the “I have one sole bestie in this world” trope. Willa was nice, sure, but I didn’t vibe with her.Family as an external conflict away from the couple’s own issues is fine with me. The naming (Summer and Winter) was a little too much. And also, Kip might’ve been great in <em>some</em> aspects, but if his wife and daughter are causing so much distress to his much more beloved daughter, it begs the question why he never sought divorce.I do like, however, that Winter stayed cold until the end. Honestly, I’d like to see her with Caleb. I love the grumpy/grumpier trope which is a <em><strong>rare</strong></em> breed of story. But it’d be fascinating to see how even a grumpy Caleb manages to thaw Winter out of her ice queen persona and also help provide much more of a natural insight to Luke’s mum.Unfortunately, I have a feeling it’s Willa x Caleb and Winter x Beau.<em>Le sigh</em>.Anywho: good read. References to OW with a fake out and some good OM drama too. I’m not sure how the steam was. Little miscommunication outside a singular stupid moment. The main strife came from words spoken shots fired.4.25 ⭐️s.💜

✨Flawless is the first book in Elsie Silver’s Chestnut Springs series. It follows Rhett Eaton, a scandal-ridden bull rider trying to fix his reputation, and Summer Hamilton, the PR rep tasked with keeping him in line. What starts as a forced babysitting gig quickly turns into a heartfelt, emotional, and surprisingly funny cowboy romance.Tropes You’ll Find:-Grumpy x Sunshine-Enemies to Lovers-Forced Proximity-Small-Town / Cowboy Romance-Strong Family Dynamics💭I picked this up to pass time on a flight and ended up giggling within the first several chapters and then shedding some (good tears) throughout the book. Summer and Rhett’s slow burn was perfectly paced, funny, emotional, and just the right timing to keep me hooked without dragging on. The perfect combination for a romance themed book!💭I actually adored Summer. She’s strong, unapologetic, and knows how to read the room, but she’s also flawed in ways Rhett helps her see. And then there’s Kip… their relationship had me missing my own dad so much that I wanted to call him 🥹💭Overall: This book is warm, heartfelt, and gave me all the feels. It’s the kind of feel-good cowboy romance you didn’t know you needed—with just enough spice (🌶️🌶️) to keep things fun. Can’t wait to finish the next book in the series!